A video went viral during the 2025 NFL Draft showing Shedeur Sanders receiving a prank call from someone pretending to be New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis, falsely telling him he was about to be drafted…….Read more
A video that quickly went viral during the 2025 NFL Draft captured an awkward and shocking moment for quarterback Shedeur Sanders, as he received a prank call from someone impersonating New Orleans Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis. The caller falsely informed Sanders that the Saints were preparing to select him with their next pick, only for it to be revealed moments later that the call was a hoax. The incident, which unfolded in real-time with cameras rolling, sparked widespread discussion online and drew sharp criticism from players, fans, and NFL executives alike.
The prank occurred during the second night of the draft, as Sanders, widely projected as a first-round pick but unexpectedly sliding into the second, sat among family and friends in a private draft party setting. As excitement built around his potential selection, Sanders’ phone rang, and video footage shows him answering with a look of hopeful anticipation. The person on the other end, mimicking Loomis’ voice and demeanor, congratulated Sanders and told him to “get ready for New Orleans,” only to later hang up abruptly, leaving Sanders visibly confused and disappointed.
Within minutes, clips of the moment surfaced across social media platforms, gathering millions of views and prompting a flood of reactions. Many criticized the cruelty of playing with a young athlete’s emotions during one of the most important nights of his life. Prominent figures across the sports world, including LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes, condemned the prank as “disrespectful” and “inexcusable,” emphasizing that players dedicate their lives to reaching this moment, and such behavior crossed a serious line.
The identity of the prank caller was initially unknown, but sources later confirmed it was Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. According to reports, Jax had obtained Sanders’ private number earlier in the week through unauthorized means. The Atlanta Falcons issued a statement Sunday distancing themselves from the incident, stating that Jax Ulbrich acted independently and had no official connection to the team. They described the prank as “immature” and stressed that it did not reflect the organization’s standards.
Shedeur Sanders has not publicly addressed the prank in detail, though he briefly alluded to it during a post-draft interview, saying, “You can’t let negativity distract you. What’s meant for you won’t miss you.” Ultimately, Sanders was selected later that evening by a different team, though many observers believe the emotional rollercoaster of the prank left a shadow over what should have been one of the most memorable moments of his career. Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father and coach at Colorado, was visibly upset during the night’s broadcast but has yet to make an official statement regarding the incident.
As the NFL and its teams grapple with the broader implications, conversations around player privacy, draft-night protocol, and professionalism have intensified. Many are calling for tighter security measures to protect players’ personal information leading up to major events like the draft. Meanwhile, the league is said to be reviewing the situation internally to determine whether further action, including possible fines or penalties, is warranted. For Shedeur Sanders, however, the focus now shifts back to football — and proving that no prank, however mean-spirited, can derail the next chapter of his promising career.
